Q&A: Best Glue Without Clamping

Three experts answer common questions about the sticky stuff

Q.What’s the
best glue to use for a wood joint when it is impossible
to clamp the joint?

A.If it’s a
structural joint, the best glue is epoxy, because
it has the best gap-filling ability, without
compromising overall joint strength. You still have
to bring the two surfaces as close together as you
can, so I’d use 5-minute epoxy and hold
the parts together.

For nonstructural gluing (like gluing a
rosette), my first choice is always cyanoacrylate
glue, used with an activator. Use a thick-viscosity
cyanoacrylate and apply it to one surface and the
activator to the other. The big downside of the
cyanoacrylates is that you need to get the fit
right immediately, as the bond is instant and
fussing with the fit will compromise the
strength.